Electric switch.



No. 682,729. Patented Sept. l7, I90I. H. A IIETZ.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

v (Applied-ion filed 8u1y 6, 1899.\ (No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN AUGUST METZ, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 682,729, datedSeptember 17, 1901.

Application filed July 5, 1899. Serial No. 722,841. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERMAN AUGUST METZ, a citizen of the United States,residing in the borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State ofNew York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ElectricSwitches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has reference to an automatic switch mechanism which isespecially adapted for controlling the selection and operationsimultaneously of a plurality of electric-lamp circuits, provision beingmade for readily making and breaking the current from a main source ofsupply to the several lamp-circuits.

The invention resides in a multiple switch to elfect automatically thenecessary changes in the distribution of current, and comprises astationary circular insulated base having arranged in suitable groups anumber of spring actuated contact pins projecting therefrom and whichform terminals of a feedcircuit and a series of leading-wires, and aconcentrically -arranged revoluble metallic disk that is provided on itslower face with an interposed insulating stop-disk, having likewisearranged in range and in groups a number of correspondingreceiving-perforations which are adapted to be brought progressively inregister to allow of the operative relation of the working'portions ofthe face of the metal disk with the selected springactuated contacts bymeans of a rotatable endwise-moving shaft or spindle, thereby forming amultiple switch in which firm and solid contacts are surely andautomatically made on parts that are always bright and clean.

I have deemed it necessary to show only my improved switch, as thelamp-circuits are well known and understood.

The drawings are as follows:

Figure 1 shows a central vertical section. Fig. 2 is a plan view of theupper rotary disk member. Fig. 3 shows a plan view of the upper base orcontact-carrying block, while Fig. 4 shows in detail and detached theconstruction of the spring-actuated contact.

The structure shown in the drawings consists of a pair ofconcentrically-arranged circular base-blocks A and B, that are ofsuitable insulating material and of sufficient thickness to afford thenecessary strength and which are shown as being held in spacedparallelism in braced position by means of the posts A. From the upperface of the insulated block B project vertically independent contacts orpins 1) and 1), that are disposed equidistant apart in radial rows andwhich are yieldingly supported by encircling coiled springs s, that aresocketed in the base B and held confined therein by reason of theheadpiece 19, formed on each, and through the medium of which springsthe contacts are adapted to adjust themselves vertically, according totheir required action. The respective pins 1) and p may be provided withbinding-posts, (not shown,) to which the respective circuit-wires areconnected.

The electrical connections, as shown, include twelve terminals, asfollows: The common return-wires p p are led from the common source ofsupply, while the remaining ten contacts 10 form the terminals of theindividual leading-wires to the lamp-circuits. These wires are insulatedand may be led in a bunch or in a cable through the central space formedby the separated insulated baseblocks to the points to which it isdesired that the current shall be directed.

Extending centrally through both blocks A and B is an operating shaft orspindle D, that is adapted to rotate loosely in bearings formedcentrally through said blocks. To the upper end of the shaft D isrigidly keyed by a headscrew J or otherwise the rotary commutatormembers 0 and D of the switch, while at the other end of the shaft thereis provided an encircling helical spring E, the tendency of which is topress the disks 0 and D in the direction of the projecting contacts. Thedisk D is made of sheet metal, such as copper or other good electricalconducting mate rial, and is provided on .its under face with a plate ofrubber or like insulating material, that is punched or cut by suitabledies, so as to provide a plurality of groups of perforations or slots 0of a size and depth to accommodate the free ends of the correspondinggroups of projecting contacts, thus admitting of a positive contact ofthe working portions of the face of the metal disk with the free ends oflike groups of contacts when brought into operative relation orengagement. Mounted on said shaft between its ends is a pulley H, whichmay be connected with an electric motor or any other suitable power. Thecontroller which acts in cooperation with the helical spring toreciprocate the shaft while it is revolving is mounted alongside of thepulley on the shaft and comprises a ratchet or cam-faced wheel F, thecam-teeth of which are held in yielding engagement with the teeth of afixed cam-faced gear-wheel G. The ratchet wheel F when rotated operatesagainst the action of the spring and in its cam-bearings against theteeth of the camfaced gear G, thereby providing a means for lifting, thedisks 0 and D together sufficiently to break the contacts of the plate Dwith and clear the independent contacts 19 and p when the cams arereaching their limit of travel. When the cam teeth have reached theirhighest pitch, a step is provided, which allows the shaft to drop backunder the influence of the spring E. It will be observed that by such anarrangement of gears the operatingspindle may be simultaneously rotatedand 1 reciproc'ated and that the reciprocation can be determined, so asto provide for the timely raising and lowering of the disks 0 and D forthe accomplishment of the predetermined making and breaking of thediiferent groups of circuits.

The different combinations of circuits which may arise from theregisteringof certain rows of perforations with the radial rows, asshown, can be understood by referring to Fig.- 2 in connection with Fig.3. It will be noticed on Fig. 2 that the vertical row contains sixreceiving-holes and the horizontal row ten, while the intersectingoblique rows contain eight and twelve, respectively. When any one ofthese rows are brought into aiinement with the radial row of contacts tobe found on Fig. 3, those contacts that register with thereceiving-holes will be admitted in contact with the metal disk D atthose points, while the other non-registering contacts will be helddepressed by the interposed insulating-disk O. 1

of the-contiguous metal face to provide working contact portionsthereon; and means for controlling the rotation and'reciprocation ofsaid shaft and disks, whereby the contacts may be brought into operativecontact with the working portions of the metal disk, as and for thepurpose set forth.

2. A switch mechanism containing the following instrumentalities, viz.,an insulated base having yielding contact projections, a rotary metalcontact-disk, and an interposed insulating-disk provided withperforations, and that is combined with said metal disk, a shaftprojecting centrally through said base, upon the upper projecting end ofwhich said disks are axially mounted; an encircling helical springsleeved on the opposite end of said shaft in a manner tending to move itin the direction to bring the disks in engagement with the contacts, anda rotary multiple camfaced gear mounted on said shaft, and a fixed gearthat is arranged in operative engagement with said rotary gear tooperate against the action of the spring to reciprocate the shaft andthereby raise the disks away from the contacts, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HERMAN AUGUST METZ.

